There was a time when my bedroom was a mecca to soft toys and dolls. Today I am reviving a few of them. Some, in person, since they still sit (largely eyeless and semi-stuffed) in a box in my spare room all these years later. Some, in memory only, since they failed to survive the endless house moves and growing up over the decades.

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Some of these toys bear evidence of the affection which I felt for them in the form of scarred faces and missing eyes. The endless hugging and dragging must have taken its toll. Others, like Woody and Buzz, have gone to better homes, to a new sanctuary who will love them until their faces fall off.

I am sure you will remember Sweep, Basil Brush and Paddington Bear well enough. Cabbage Patch dolls were not allowed to darken our doorstep. “Vile things, ” I am pretty sure my Mother would have said (only based on the logic that it’s what I would say now if my child wanted one). The others are my own little chaps.

Most controversially of all, perhaps, I have included Old Golly. He was a pal for many years, a sign of more innocent times perhaps, or ignorant times? I loved him like all the others, and since he forms an integral part of my childhood memories, he must be commemorated on these pages alongside his contemporaries.

Call me a sentimental old boot, but I can’t see myself ever disposing of these fellas. They aren’t particularly soft and were never all that cuddly, but they were our companions through the adventurous and heady years of childhood, and therefore, in my opinion, worthy of a photo shoot all of their very own, and a place in my heart forever.

NOW, what are your memories of the cuddly toys from your era? Post an entry to your own Blog and use the Linky tool (link below) to enter your memories into the fray. If you like, just leave a comment and join in that way, but do join in.

If you feel sexy, grab the code too (just follow the link) and post it into your Blog entry – that way, everyone can pay it forward as they say – it’s good to share.

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